The grassroots effort is something the West Shore resident said he decided to take on because he wanted to know more about places to visit in Harrisburg.

"Working here I didn't know what all there was to do in Harrisburg," said Brackbill, who founded Render in July 2010 while still in school at Messiah College, where he was a marketing major. "I used Google Maps to look for businesses, but some are not on there."

The site will be open to all types of business, he said. Anyone interested in signing up or getting more information can do so through the site's introductory page.

The biggest thing about the site is that it will include an interactive map, which will be mobile friendly, so visitors can find places they seek, Brackbill said.

The site will include business logos and descriptions and/or images of the products and services they provide. There also will be a rating system.

"I like to be able to help other businesses," Brackbill said, adding that his portfolio has included work for small startups and nonprofits.